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Space Machines uses Siemens system to develop space vehicle

Posted on 14 Jan 2024. Edited by: John Hunter. Read 1053 times.
Space Machines uses Siemens system to develop space vehicleSiemens Digital Industries Software recently announced that Space Machines Co (SMC), an Australian ‘space on-orbit services and logistics start-up’, has used the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to design and build the Optimus Orbital Servicing Vehicle. One of the largest commercial spacecraft being designed, manufactured, and assembled in Australia, the 270kg Optimus is being developed at the University of Technology Sydney’s Tech Lab and will be launched by a SpaceX rocket from the USA.

Its aim will be to help ‘taxi commercial satellites’ into their orbital paths around Earth and beyond, as well as to service, maintain, repair, and extend the life of other satellites on orbit.
SMC is using Siemens NX software for design and modeling, Simcenter software for thermo-mechanical elements simulation and analyses, and Teamcenter X software as a service (SaaS) for cloud-based product lifecycle management (PLM), which has helped reduce costs and time, while delivering productivity gains for teams working on Optimus.

Rajat Kulshrestha, Space Machines Co’s CEO, said: “On-orbit servicing and logistics is the new frontier in space innovation. Many critical aspects of our daily lives — such as banking, weather forecasting, and global communications — are impacted by the ability of satellites to deliver these critical services. There are over 7,000 active satellites orbiting Earth. These, and new ones coming into orbit, need a sustainable and safe operating environment. We deliver responsive and affordable on-orbit servicing and security solutions to customers.

“To do what we do, we need the right software that is agile in a fast-paced environment and can scale as we do. Siemens’ software has been critical in our ability to reduce design and development iterations without compromising on mission objectives. It has helped us create a unified digital environment and allowed us to rapidly prototype on the digital twin, helping us understand how Optimus will behave in orbit in unknown conditions.

“Alongside the design and manufacturing phase, SMC’s hardware and software undergo rigorous testing phases, which calls for a robust PLM system. Teamcenter X helps with everything from quick design changes, running simulations and validation, through to manufacturing and final assembly — using Siemens’ comprehensive digital twin.”